Chopper deal: Solicitor General cautions against CBI questioning Goa, WB governors

NEW DELHI: Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran has cautioned CBI against questioning the governors of Goa and West Bengal in its VVIP helicopter deal investigation even as witnesses, pointing out that they enjoy constitutional immunity.

In his opinion rendered to the government, the senior Law Officer has said that their questioning even as witnesses in a criminal case could "aid" to prosecute them later. CBI wanted to question Narayanan and Wanchoo as witnesses in connection with its probe into the VVIP helicopter deal.

Parasaran said the two -- BV Wanchoo and MK Narayanan, the Goa and West Bengal governors, respectively -- could only be questioned after they relinquish their high constitutional posts.

CBI wanted to record their statements as part of its probe into the alleged payment of a Rs 360 crore bribe in the deal which was scrapped by the government last year.

Narayanan, who was the then National Security Adviser and Wanchoo, as head of the elite Special Protection Group, were reportedly part of meetings where specifications for the helicopters were changed.

The change in "service ceiling" (or the altitude at which a helicopter can fly) from the 6,000 metres suggested by Air Head Quarters to 4,500 metres had allegedly allowed AugustaWestland to enter the race.

So far, CBI has named former Air Chief SP Tyagi, his cousins and several others in its First Information Report in the case.